Shoestring-fastener



(No Model.)

E. J. LUNT. SHOESTRING FASTENER.

Patented May 26, 1896 AN DREW EGRANAM FHOTO-LITNQWASHIIN GTUN. DZC

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

EVA J. LUNT, or BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOESTRlNG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,009, dated May 26, 1896.

Application filed September 26, 1895. Serial No. 563,769. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EVA J. LUNT, of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoestring-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in shoestring-fasteners, the object being to provide a simple clasp for holding the ends of a knot and preventing them from slipping out and untying accidentally; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in front elevation, showing my improved fastener applied. Fig. 2 is a detached view. Fig. 3 is a modification.

A represents a wire bent preferably to form two pair of spring-jaws 1 2 and 3 and 4. These are in two pairs connected together by connecting-bar 5. The extreme ends 6 6 of the wire are bent outward or around to make them blunt and to facilitate eifecting an entrance between the jaws. This fastener thus constructed is adapted to receive the knot centrally and to have the ends of the knot or string forced between the two pairs of springjaws, where the string is held firmly against the possibility of working its way out. The Wire A constituting these parts might be variously fastened to the shoe or shoe-tongue, at or near the upper end thereof; but preferably a piece of sheet metal B is employed. This is folded to form the two parts 10 and 7 and socket 8, which receives the cross-bar 5 as a pintle and forms a bearing for it. At the extreme end of this plate B the teeth 9 9 are formed for fastening the plate to the tongue or any other part of the shoe. In this Way the fastener is easily attached to a shoe by machine or by hand and is firmly held in place thereon. In tying the knot the jaws may be swung up out of the way and then down to receive the knot. The device is a simple, light, and most eflicient one and can be made and applied at a small expense.

In the modification the jaws 1, 2, 3, and 4. are all in the same plane, and instead of the metal plate B being used the fastener is attached to the end of the tongue by means of a piece of leather doubled or folded, as shown. This form is particularly applicable when the tongue is shorter than the upper, as is often the case.

It is evident that some slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the Several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my. invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- AS an article of manufacture, a shoestringfastener comprising a pair of open springhooks having hinged connection with the ar ticle to which they are attached, Said hooks adapted to receive the ends of a shoestring in them and sufficiently separated to have a knot formed in the space between them, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EVA J. LUNT. IVitnesses:

ALBERT C. LUNT, WILLIAM A. KINLooH. 

